Film metering and phasing mechanism



Sept. 15,1953 H. "r. HODGES FILM METERING AND PHASING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet l Howakdlbbdges iIVENTOR 08W BY A T 0R NE Y5 Fig. 1

ll'llll'l' Filed July 27, 1950 Sept. 15, 1953 H. 1. HODGES FILM METERING AND PHASING MECHANISM Filed July 27, 1950 -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2

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mgm- 43 flowal'dfliodges NVENTOR I I By 5 AT ORNEYS Patented Sept. 15, 1953 2,652,210 MEIEBIN G AND PHASING MECHANISM Howard T. Hodges, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Eastman Kodak C ompany, Rochester, N. Y., a

corporation "of New Jersey Application July 27, 1950, Serial No. 176,169 14 Claims. (01. 242 -71) The present invention relates to roll film cameras and more particularly to a film metering' mechanism therefor.

As is well known; in" cameras or this type, it is desirable to provide a mechanism which will lock the film-winding or moving means automatically after each exposed'image has been wound on the takeup'spoolor Spindle; and an unexposed frame or area' hasbeen moved into exposing position. After the exposure has been made, it is necessary to rues-Se the previously locked spindle so that the exposed area maybe wound, as is well known. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide an arrangement by which the takeup spindle lockin'g mechanism maybe disengaged or rendered inoperativafter the last exposure is made and wound up, so asto permit free winding of the traile'r'fst'ri" and the" free winding of the leader stripof'a new roll of'film.

Accordingly, it highly desirableto provide means for maintaining the elements of the locking-mechanism in proper phased relation so as to lock the winding"ineohanism'succ essively only after each exposed area is moved,'fa'nd not to disconnect the locking mechanism from the film until after the last exposure area is wound up "on the takeup spool. Also, it is desirable to provide an arrangement by which the .parts'of the control for the locking mechanism areldcked after winding of the last exposure so'as' to" insure the retention of the properphased relation of the entire mechanism so that Jsheparts will be in the proper relative positions when ,a new film is ready for exposure. Thus, 'after'thelast exposure has been made, the winding mechanism is freed, 'but the control parts are'lockedto insure their proper phased relation. 'I'o'seiire result, after the last exposure has'beenmade, a manuallycojntrolled reload iever'tr'member is rockedto bring a lugthereon into engagementwith'the locking mechanism'to moveithilatter to an inoperative position to free the windup" spindle "to permit unobstructed winding or the trailer and leader strips. Also, thecontrofmechanismis locked in a definite phased relation. "Then; when the first image arealof 7a .nwfilm is in position, the looking and controlfnimb'ers are released and are rendered operative lock the winding spindle, and the .parts are theninproper phased relation.

In addition, it. is sometimes desirableto remove a partially exposedfllilm strip from the Game In order to accomplish,thisjresult, it isdesirable that the unexposed areas be successively wound ofi without further locking ,orftne "winding ill present invention may be rocked to move the looking mechanism to its inoperative position to the locking means been made.

A still further object of during initial winding of each film area.

Yet another object of the invention is the pro- In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view oi a roll film side plate removed, showing the relation notch in the metering disk;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but at a slightly later time in film-winding operation, showwinding spindle at the end of the film-Winding operation;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3, and

shows the position of the reload lever after the last exposure has been made to hold the forwarding pawl in released position and retaining the metering disk against rotation so as to insure proper phased relation of the parts;

Fig. is a side view of the metering disk and its associated parts with the reload lever in its inoperative position, as shown in Figs. 1-3; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but with the reload lever moved to its operative position, as shown in Fig. 4, showing the relation of the reload lever parts to the forwarding pawl and the metering disk.

Similar various views indicate the same parts.

As is common and well known practice, a film strip H3 is wound successively from a supply spool across an exposure area and is finally wound up on a takeup spool. During this passage across the camera, the film engages a measuring roll which is rotated with and in timed-relation with the film movement. As such structures are well known and form no part of the present invention, they are not designated or described. However, the shaft of the measuring roll has mounted thereon a metering disk H which is of such a size as to make a single complete revolution when the film strip has been moved the distance of one image area, all of which is deemed apparent to those skilled in the art.

The disk I i is formed with a radially extended open-end slot or notch i2, the purpose of which will be later described. A locking or forwarding pawl 13 is pivoted at M on the camera. A spring l5 has one end anchored at it to the camera and the other end fastened to an arm or lever ll formed from the material of the pawl It, as clearly shown in the drawings. The spring I5 tends to rock the pawl H, with its arm ii, in a counterclockwise direction, about pivot M, to move a lug M3 on the lower end of the pawl i3 into engagement with the periphery of disk H. The other or upper end of pawl i3 is formed with a tooth i9 adapted to engage a ratchet 2E fixed to the takeup spindle 2! to lock the latter against further movement at the end of each film-winding operation. As mentioned above, disk I i makes one revolution when the film strip is moved. the distance of one image area. At this time, the notch I2 has been moved into registry with lug it, and the pawl l3 rocks, under the action of spring E5, to move the lug 18 into notch i2. Such rocking simultaneously moves tooth it into locking relation with ratchet 26 looking spindle 2| against further rotation, as shown in Fig. l. The disk H is also provided with an axially extending opening or recess with which a bent-up lug 26 on the free end of arm ll is adapted to cooperate, in a manner and for a purpose to be later described.

After the tooth 89 engages ratchet 26, as above described, the film is ready for an exposure, and the shutter may be operated to expose the positioned film area. After making the exposure, it is now necessary to wind up the exposed film. It is noted, however, that the parts are in a position shown in Fig. l and the takeupspindle is locked. Therefore, it is necessary to move the tooth 19 of pawl it out of holding relation with ratchet 20 before the exposed film can be wound up. Obviously, this can be acomplished by imparting a clockwise rotation to pawl i3. Such rotation will not only disengage tooth l9 from ratchet 20 to free spindle 2|, but also will withreference numerals throughout the At the same time,

4 draw the lug 3 out of notch l2 of disk I l to free the latter.

While a plurality of arrangements may be utilized to impart such clockwise rotation to pawl l3, it is preferred to secure such rotation by means of a reverse rotation of the winding spindleso that the latter not only serves to wind up the film when 'rotated in one direction, but also to release the holding pawl 13 when rotated in the opposite direction. In winding the film, the spindle 2! is rotated in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. When, however, the pawl 13 is to be used to disengage the spindle 2!, the latter is rotated in the opposite or counterclockwise direction. In order that the spindle may be effectively released, the spindle has mounted thereon a second ratchet 2'! which is engaged by a release pawl 28 held in engagement with ratchet 21 by means of a spring 29. The pawl 28 is formed with a slot 38 to mount the pawl 28 slidably on a stud 3i which extends through a slot'3'2. When the pawl I3 is in locked relation with ratchet 20; an ear 33 on the lower end of the reverse pawl 28 is in substantial engagement with pawl'l3, see Fig. 1. Now, after an exposure has been made, the spindle 2| is rotated, by means of a knob, not shown, in a counterclockwise direction. This movement causes ratchet 21 to engage pawl 28 to slide the latter to the right as shown in Fig. 1 and into positive engagement with pawl l3. Further rotation of the spindlewill cause ear 33 to rock pawl l3 clockwise about pivot 14 to disengage tooth il from ratchet 2t, and simultaneously withdraw lug it from notch l2. The parts are then in the position shown in Fig. 2.

While the spindle 21 is now unlocked, it is apparent that as the'winding knob is now released, the spring 29 will return pawl 28 to its original position to free pawl I3. I Spring 55 will then become operative again to rock-pawl IS in a counterclockwise direction and back to the position shown in Fig. 1, to again look the spindle. Therefora it is apparent that when the spindle J has been turned to release pawl it, some means must be provided to retain the latter in its released position.

To secure this result, pawl l3 has formed from the material thereof the auxiliary cantilever arm or holding member 11 which is arranged along side of'pawl H3. The free end of arm IT is formed with a lug or ear 25. Now, when the pawl I3 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction by pawl 28, as above described, the lug 26 will move radially and inwardly, or to the left, across the face 35 of disk II and will finally drop into the opening or recess 25, as shown in Fig. 2. When the lug 26 drops into recess 25, it will engage the side wall or edge 36 thereof. The latter forms, in effect, a holding abutment or shoulder which retains the lug 26 in position in the recess 25. Such retention serves to maintain the lug l8 away from the periphery 31 of the disk H and out of the slot l2, as shownin Fig. 2. In this position of pawl l3, the tooth I9 is maintained out of engagement with the ratchet 20, and the spindle 2i is free and may be rotated to wind up the exposed image area.

As the spindle 2i is now rotated, the exposed film is moved across the camera and wound up on the takeup spindle, as is apparent. Such movement will impart a clockwise rotation to the disk I i. As the film winding continues, the notch I2 is moved out of .registry with the lug l8. the'trailing edge 38 of the locked against further rotation. It is thus apparent that the portion of the film-winding operation. Thereafter, the lug 26 is cammed automatically out of move the lever 40 to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

Such counterclockwise movement of the lever 48 serves to bring a lug or ear 43 formed thereon the trailer and leader strips. During such winding, it is desirable to retain the disk ll against rotation so as to hold the disk in its proper phased relation to pawl i3 so that when the first image area of a new roll of film is positioned in the camera, the lever 45 may be returned to its inoperative position and the lug [8 will move into notch H! to lock the spindle 2!. For this reason, the disk II is maintained stationary and in its proper phased relation during the winding of the trailer and leader strips.

To secure this phasing of the disk H, the latter is formed with a depending pin 44 which is in the position shown in Fig. 4 after the last exposure has been made. The reload lever 40 is formed with a curved or arcuate blocking surface 45, which, when the lever 40 is moved to the posileader strips.

tionally to the known manner. member 46 may be mounted loosely on the measuring shaft 41 which carries disk II. A friction coupling 48 As the disk II is held stationary, it is apparent that its proper phased relation will be maintamed so that it will be in proper position when devices of this type.

The blocking surface 45 advantages. Suppose, for example, that when the camera back is open, the operator inadvertently rotates shaft 41 ina counterclockwise direction. Such rotation obviously will move disk H from its proper phased relation, as shown in Fig. 4. In this position the pin 44 will no longer engage the blocking surface 45 so the latter will also provides further disk I I finally engages as a unit therewith. will continue until the pin 44 surface 45, whereupon the disk II will be held against further rotation. Thus, irrespective of the position of the disk I I and slot l2 when the camera back is closed the slot will be properly positioned, as shown in Fig. 4, before the completion of the winding of the leader strip, so that the disk H will be positioned positively and automatically in the proper and required phased relation before the first image area .of the new film strip has been moved into position.

At this time the disk H and pawl l3 are in a position shown in Fig. 4. It is apparent, however, that the lug 26 overlies opening 25 and if the reload lever 45 were now returned to its inoperative position, as shown in Figs. 1-3, the lug 26 would engage in opening 25 and retain the pawl [3 in its release position as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Obviously, in this position, the lug i8 will not move into notch I 2 and tooth I9 will not engage the ratchet 20 and the spindle will not be locked when the first image area is positioned.

In order to eliminate such a possibility, the reload lever 40 is formed'with an of a down-turned lug 52 depending from arm 17, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Now, as the lever 40 is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 4, the arm 50 will engage surface 5| to cam or lift arm I! upwardly and out of holding relation with opening 25, as shown in Fig. 6. The parts are so designed that as the lever 40 is returned to its inoperative position, Figs. 1-3, the member 45 first moves out of engagement with pawl I3, allowing the latter to rock counterclockwise, under the action of spring IE, to, move lug I8 into 7 notch 12. when the pawl l3 has been moved sufficiently to shift lug 26 to the right and out of registry with opening 25, the arm 50 then moves out of contact with the surface 5| and lug 26 will then drop onto the face 35 of the disk H. However, at the same time the pawl l3 has been moved. into locking relation and the spindle 3| is looked, as is desired. By means of this arrangement, the lug 26 is held in an inoperative position until the pawl l3 has been moved into locking position, thus, assuring that the spindle will be locked when the first image area is in position and the reload lever has been moved to its inoperative position, Figs. 1-3.

Thus, the reload lever 40 serves to move the pawl l3 out of locking relation after the last exposure has been made to permit the unobstructed winding of the trailer and leader strips. In addition, the disk H is held or positioned so that the notch 12 of the disk will be in proper phased relation with the lug l8 of the pawl [3 when the first image area of the new roll of film is positioned in the camera. Finally, arm 50 of the reload lever All retains lug 26 in an inoperative position to permit positive and automatic locking of the winding spindle when the lever 40 is rocked to its inoperative position. Thus, the lever 4B holds pawl l3 in its released position, and properly phases disk H. I

The present invention thus provides a metering disk which controls the movement of the pawl l3 so that the latter will be moved into looking relation with the windup spindle only at the end of each winding operation. In addition, the metering disk provides means for holding the pawl temporarily out of cooperating relation of the disk during the initial portion only of the winding operation so as to prevent inadvertent and unintentional locking of the winding spindle before the end of the Winding operation. In addition, the present invention provides a reload lever which is manually positioned at the end of the last exposure, or some desired number of exposures, to move the locking pawl to an inoperative position and also to retain the metering disk in its proper phased relation. The reload lever has been described as being used only after the last exposure has been made to release the pawl 13 to permit unobstructed winding of the trailer strip. It is apparent, however, that the lever 40 may be moved to its operative position even when a roll has been only partially exposed, and the unexposed images as well as the trailer strip may then be wound off so as to permit a partially exposed roll to be removed from the camera. i desired, the partially exposed roll may be later placed in the camera. In such a case the lever 40 would be moved to its operative position and the previously exposed image areas will be wound off and then the lever 40 will be turned to its inoper ative position and the moving and locking means will then become effective to lock the spindle at the end of each succeeding winding operation.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive idea may be carried out in a number of ways. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to cover all modifications and variations thereof which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a roll-film camera, the combination with a rotatable take-up spindle adapted to be rotated 8 exposure, a ratchet carried by said spindle, a movable pawl, a notched rotatable metering disk positioned on said body and rotated by said strip and in timed relation therewith, of a lug on said pawlmovable into the notch of said disk to move said pawl into locking relation with said ratchet when a predetermined length of film has been wound, means actuated by rotation of said spindle in the opposite direction to move said pawl out of locking relation with said ratchet, and holding means on said disk engaging said pawl to retain the latter out of locking relation with said ratchet.

2. In a roll-film camera, the combination with a rotatable take-up spindle adapted to be rotated in one direction to wind up a film strip after each exposure, a ratchet carried by said spindle, a movable pawl, a notched rotatable metering disk positioned on said body and rotated by said strip and in timed relation therewith, of a lug on said pawl movable into the notch of said disk to move said pawl into locking relation with said ratchet when a predetermined length of film has been wound, means actuated by rotation of said spindle in the opposite direction to move said pawl out of locking relation with said ratchet, and a shoulder on said disk engageable by said pawl when the latter is moved in said opposite direction to retain said paw1 out of locking relation with said ratchet.

3. In a roll-film camera, the combination with a rotatable take-up spindle adapted to be rotated in one direction to wind up a film strip after each exposure, a ratchet carried by said spindle, a movable pawl, a notched rotatable metering disk positioned on said body and rotated by said strip and in timed relation therewith, of a lug on said pawl movable into the notch of said disk to move said pawl into locking relation with said ratchet when a predetermined length of film has been wound, means actuated by rotation of said spindle in the opposite direction to move said pawl out of locking relation with said ratchet, a shoulder on said disk engageable by said pawl when the latter is moved in said opposite direction to retain said pawl out of locking relation with said ratchet, and means on said disk for releasing said pawl to render said lug operative to cooperate with said disk to move said pawl into locking relation with said ratchet when a predetermined length of film has been wound.

4:. In a roll-film camera, the combination with a rotatable take-up spindle adapted to be rotated in one direction to wind up a film strip after each exposure, a ratchet carried by said spindle, a movable pawl, a notched rotatable metering disk positioned on said body and rotated by said strip and in timed relation therewith, of a lug on said pawl movable into the notch of said disk to move said pawl into locking relation with said ratchet when a predetermined length of film has been wound, means actuated by rotation of said spindle in the opposite direction to move said pawl out of locking relation with said ratchet, a holdmg lever on said pawl, and means on said disk engaging said lever when said pawl has been moved in said opposite direction to retain said pawl out of locking relation with said ratchet.

5. In a roll-film camera, the combination with a rotatable take-up spindle adapted to be rotated in one direction to wind up a film strip after each exposure, a ratchet carried by said spindle, a movable pawl, a notched rotatable metering disk positioned on said body and rotated by said strip in one direction to wind up a film strip after each and in timed relation therewith, of a lug n said on said pawl movable into the pawl movable into the notch of said disk to move said opposite direction to retain said pawl out of to cooperate with said disk.

6. In a roll-film camera, the combination with direction to move said pawl out of locking relation with said ratchet, a holding lever formed on said pawl and movable radially across said disk when said pawl is moved in said opposite direction, a holding shoulder formed on said disk and positioned in the path of said lever when the latter is moved across said disk to engage said-lever to retain said pawl out of locking relation with said ratchet, and a camon said disk movable into engagement with said lever upon rotation of said disk by the movement of film strip to move said lever out of holding relation with said shoulder to permit said lug to move into cooperating relation with said disk.

7. In a roll-film camera, the combination with a rotatable take-up tated in one direction to wind up a film strip after each exposure, a ratchet carried by said spindle, a movable pawl, a notched rotatable metering disk positioned on said body and rotated by said strip and in timed relation therewith, of 2. lug notch of said disk to move said pawl into locking relation with said ratchet when a predetermined length of film has been wound, means to move said pawl out of locking relation with said ratchet, and means independent of said last-mentioned means for moving said pawl out of locking relation with said ratchet.

8. In a roll-film camera, the combination with a rotatable take-up spindle adapted to be rsaid ratchet.

9. In a roll-film camera, the combination with a rotatable take-up spindle adapted to be rotated in one direction to wind up a film strip spindle adapted to be ro- I engaging said disk 10 after each exposure, a ratchet carried by said notched rotatable mined length of film has been wound, means to move said pawl to withdraw said lug out of said notch and to shift said pawl out of locking relation with said ratchet, means controlled element movable to engage said pawl to move and hold said pawl out of locking relation with said ratchet independently of pawl moving and retaining means.

10. In a roll-film camera, the combination with a rotatable take-up spindle adapted to be rotated in one direction to wind up a film strip after each exposure, a ratchet carried by said spindle, a movable pawl, a notched rotatable winding of trailer and leader strips, and means directly to prevent rotation of said disk during the winding of the trailer and leader strips to phase said disk.

11. In a roll-film camera, the combination with a rotatable take-up spindle adapted to be retated in one direction to wind up a film strip after each exposure, a ratchet carried by said said last-mentioned means movable into engagement with said pawl to move the latter out of locking relation with said ratchet to free said spindle to permit unobstructed winding and leader strips and simultaneously to engage and lock said disk against rotation to phase said disk.

12. In a roll-film camera, the combination with a rotatable take-up spindle adapted to be rotated in one direction to wind up a film strip after each exposure, a ratchet carried by said spindle, a movable pawl, a notched rotatablemetering disk positioned on said body and rotated by said strip and in timed relation therewith, of a lug on said pawl movable into the notch of said disk to move said pawl into locking relation with said ratchet when a predetermined length of film has been wound, means to move said pawl out of locking relation with said ratchet, means independent of said last-mentioned means for moving and holding said pawl out of locking relation with said ratchet to allow winding of trailer and leader strips, a pin projecting from the face of said disk, and means adapted to engage said pin to hold said disk against rotation during the winding of the trailer and leader strips to phase said disk.

13. In a roll-film camera, the combination with a rotatable take-up spindle adapted to be rotated in one direction to wind up a film strip after each exposure, a ratchet carried by said spindle, a movable pawl, a notched rotatable metering disk positioned on said body and rotated by said strip and in timed relation therewith, of a lug on said pawl movable into the notch of said disk to move said pawl into locking relation with said ratchet when a predetermined length of film has been wound, means to move said pawl out of locking relation with said ratchet, a holding lever formed on said pawl and movable radially across said disk when said pawl is moved out of locking relation, a holding shoulder formed on said disk and positioned in the path of said lever when the latter is moved across said disk to engage said lever to retain said pawl out of locking relation with said ratchet, a cam on said disk movable into engagement with said lever upon rotation of said disk by the movement of said film strip to move said lever out of holding relation with said shoulder to permit said lug to move into cooperating relation with said disk, a rockable member positioned adjacent said disk, a lug on said member positionable to engage said pawl to move the latter out of locking relation with said ratchet when said member is moved in one direction to free said spindle to permit winding of trailer and leader strips, a cam on said member adapted to engage said holding lever to retain the latter out of holding relation with said shoulder, and means on said member to hold said disk against rotation during the winding of said trailer and leader strips to phase said disk.

14. In a roll-film camera, the combination with a rotatable take-up spindle adapted to be rotated in one direction to wind up a film strip after each exposure, a ratchet carried by said spindle, a movable pawl, a notched rotatable metering disk positioned on said body and rotated by said strip and in timed relation therewith, of a lug on said pawl movable into the notch or" said disk to move said pawl into locking relation with said ratchet when a predetermined length of film has been wound, means actuated by rotation of said spindle in the opposite direction to move said pawl out of locking relation with said ratchet, a holding lever formed on said pawl and movable radially across said disk when said pawl is moved out of locking relation, a holding shoulder formed on said disk and positioned in the path of said lever when the latter is moved across said disk to engage said lever to retain said pawl out of locking relation with said ratchet, a cam on said disk movable into engagement with said lever upon rotation of said disk by the movement of said film strip to move said lever out of holding relation with said shoulder to permit said lug to move into cooperating relation with said disk, a rockable member positioned adjacent said disk, a lug on said member positionable to engage said pawl to move the latter out of locking relation with said ratchet when said member is moved in one direction to free said spindle to permit winding of trailer and leader strips, a cam on said member adapted to engage said holding lever to retain the latter out of holding relation with said shoulder, a pin projecting from the face of said disk, and a blocking portion on said member positionable to engage said pin to hold said disk against rotation during the winding of said trailer and leader strips to phase said disk.

HOWARD T. HODGES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,063,331 Nagel Dec. 8, 1936 2,090,017 Young Aug. 17, 1937 2,356,560

Baumgartner Aug. 22, 1944 

